What is Advancement?

Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank in the Scouting program. Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. Everything done to advance and earn these ranks should be designed to help the young person have an exciting and meaningful experience.

”

“

Education and fun are functions of the Scouting movement, and they must be the basis of the advancement program.

Advancement Principles

Council and district advancement committees implement procedures that help achieve the following advancement principles.

”

“

Personal growth is the prime consideration in the advancement program. Scouting skills—what a young person knows how to do—are important, but they are not the most important aspect of advancement. Scouting's concern is the total growth of youth. This growth may be measured by how youth live the Scouting ideals, and how they do their part in their daily lives.

Learning by doing. A Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturer may read about fire building or good citizenship. He/she may hear it discussed, and watch others in action, but he/she has not learned first aid until he/she has done it.

Each youth progresses at his or her own rate. Advancement is not a competition among individual young people, but is an expression of their interest and participation in the program. Youth must be encouraged to advance steadily and set their own goals with guidance from their parents, guardians, or leaders.

Just because a group of youth join at the same time, not everyone will earn the same awards at the same time. Let all members earn the awards at their own pace.

”

“

A badge is recognition of what a young person is able to do, not merely a reward for what he or she has done. The badge is proof of certain abilities, and is not just a reward for the completion of a task.

”

“

Advancement encourages Scouting ideals. Scouting teaches a young person how to care for himself/herself and help others. Advancement should reflect the desire to live the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing Oath in his/her daily life.

”

“

No council, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to or subtract from advancement requirements. (For the policies concerning youth members with special needs, see pages 39–43.)Suggestions for changes in requirements should be sent to the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing committee, Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079.

Advancement in the Four Scouting Program Phases

Advancement is one of the methods used to achieve the aims of Scouting in all four phases of the Scouting program (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing). The aims of Scouting are character building, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness.

Cub Scouting

The Cub Scout program in the den and pack is the basis for Cub Scout advancement. The steps in Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, and Webelos Scout advancement procedures are preparation, qualification, and recognition.

Cub Scouting has the following ranks: Bobcat, Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light. The requirements to reach each rank are authorized by the National Executive Board and set forth in the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, and Webelos Handbook.

Venturing

{{quote-source|A male Venturer who has achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout in a [[troop or as a Varsity Scout in a team may continue working toward the Eagle Scout rank as a Venturer until his 18th birthday. There is no alternate Venturing advancement route to qualify for the Eagle Scout rank.